An attachment for David on the part of Michal, Saul's youngest daughter, afforded the king another opportunity to plot against his rival. Michal's hand was offered the young man on condition that evidence should be given of the defeat and slaughter of a specified number of their national foes. "Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines," but God shielded His servant. David returned a victor from the battle, to become the king's son-in-law. "Michal Saul's daughter loved him," and the monarch, enraged, saw that his plots had resulted in the elevation of him whom he sought to destroy. He was still more assured that this was the man whom the Lord had said was better than he, and who should reign on the throne of Israel in his place. Throwing off all disguise, he issued a command to Jonathan and to the officers of the court to take the life of the one he hated.

Da Sauls yngste datter Mikal fattede kærlighed til David, fik kongen en ny anledning til at stræbe sin rival efter livet. Kongen tilbød den unge mand Mikals hånd på den betingelse, at han kunne fremlægge beviser på, at han havde besejret og dræbt et vist antal af nationens fjender. "Saul gjorde nemlig regning på at få David fældet ved filisternes hånd." Men Gud beskyttede sin tjener. David kom sejrrig hjem fra slaget og blev kongens svigersøn. Sauls datter Mikal elskede David, og kongen så til sin store fortrydelse, at hans onde planer blot havde tjent til at ære og ophøje det menneske, som han havde søgt at rydde af vejen. Nu var han endnu mere overbevist om, at David var den mand, som Herren havde betegnet som bedre end ham selv, og at det var ham, der skulle overtage tronen i hans sted. Fra nu af stræbte han ikke David hemmeligt efter livet mere, men gav Jonatan og sine folk ved hoffet befaling om at dræbe sin fjende.